Sleep apnea seems to run in some families, suggesting a possible genetic basis.Ĭertain mechanical and structural problems in the airway cause the interruptions in breathing during sleep. People most likely to have or develop sleep apnea include those who snore loudly and also are overweight, or have high blood pressure, or have some physical abnormality in the nose, throat, or other parts of the upper airway. Four percent of middle-aged men and 2 percent of middle-aged women have sleep apnea along with excessive daytime sleepiness. It has been estimated that as many as 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both sexes but is more common in men (it may be under-diagnosed in women) and possibly young African Americans. Early recognition and treatment of sleep apnea is important because it may be associated with irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. The frequent interruptions of deep, restorative sleep often lead to early morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea can also be characterized by choking sensations.

These breathing pauses are almost always accompanied by snoring between apnea episodes, although not everyone who snores has this condition. In a given night, the number of involuntary breathing pauses or 'apneic events' may be as high as 20 to 30 or more per hour. Obstructive sleep apnea is far more common and occurs when air cannot flow into or out of the person's nose or mouth although efforts to breathe continue. Central sleep apnea, which is less common, occurs when the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the breathing muscles to initiate respirations. There are two types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive. It owes its name to a Greek word, apnea, meaning 'want of breath.' First described in 1965, sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood.

Involuntary snort while awake